MEDIA MONITORING DATABASE
Trial over “sexual abuse” report – Evrim Kepenek
RELATED PERSON OR INSTITUTION
Evrim Kepenek
CITY
İstanbul
YEAR OF INTERFERENCE
2024
LAST UPDATED
18/08/2025
TYPE OF STATEMENT
Political
MEDIUM
Internet
Internet News Portal
THE TITLE OF WHOSE RIGHT IS INTERFERED
Journalist
RIGHTS GUARANTEED UNDER THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Right to Impart Information and Ideas
TYPE OF INTERFERENCE
Judicial Interference
Criminal Courts
Approval of the indictment and initiating the prosecution
THE LEGAL GROUNDS FOR INTERFERENCE
Turkish Penal Code
Art. 285

1 October 2024

Evrim Kepenek, a reporter for Bianet, has gone on trial before the Istanbul Büyükçekmece 9th Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of “violating the confidentiality of an investigation” over her reporting on the alleged death of a child as a result of sexual abuse.

In her defense at the hearing, Kepenek stated: “Throughout my career, I have adhered to the principles of professional journalism, striving especially to amplify the voices of women and children. As a core principle of my work, I safeguard the rights of victims and report their stories to the public in an ethical manner without causing further harm.”  The court referred the case to the prosecutor’s office for preparation of the final opinion and adjourned the trial until January 24, 2025. (1 October)